<img src="http://stlouisracing.com/pixs03/Tdlanniganbobbards.jpg">
Darrell Lanigan - Photo by Richard Cunningham
Saturday Night, September 20, 2003
Bluegrass Speedway-Bardstown, KY
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Darrell Lanigan of Union, KY out dueled Brad Neat to win the 5th Annual "Bluegrass 50" on Saturday Night at the Bluegrass Speedway. The race was sanctioned for the first time by Kentucky's Premier Dirt Late Model Sanctioning Body the STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series as a series record 67 Late Models were on hand for the $5000 to win event. It also set a regular season record for car count at Bardstown breaking last year's 52 car field for the 2002 Bluegrass 50 event. In a thrilling 50 lap main event that saw no caution flags Lanigan would win by just one car length over Neat, who had led the first 44 laps of the race. Lanigan the 2003 Eldora Dream $100,000 winner would take his third STARS BoB win of the year and his fifth career which ties him with Eddie Carrier Jr and Mike Marlar for most all-time in the two year history of the series. Lanigan drove the Lanigan Autosports, Accutex Signs and Banners, Gotta Race Wear, AFCO Racing Products, Porter Lanigan Real Estate, Turbo Blue Racing Gasoline, Weld Racing, Moreland's One Stop Race Shop, Bert Transmissions, Dyer's Top Rods, Custom Craft Racing Headers, Mothers Polishes, Waxes and Cleaners, Arizona Sport Shirts, Delph Communications, All-Star Performance, Cornett Thunder Race Engines powered Rocket Ford Taurus #29 to victory lane holding off Neat who drove the Greg Neat/Neat's Service Center/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo to a second place finish. Current STARS Battle of the Bluegrass point’s leader, Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN was third in the PBM Performance Products/WFO Graphics/C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix. Fourth went to John Gill of Mitchell, IN in the Terry Eaglin Motorsports/Helena Chemicals/Rocket Grand Prix with fifth at the finish going to Steve Casebolt Jr of Richmond, IN in the Dargie Race Engines/Rocket Ford Taurus.
The 2002 Bluegrass Speedway track champion, Brad Neat would start on the outside front row alongside Aaron Hatton, the pole sitter. Neat would set his sights on leading the first lap rocketing into the lead with Hatton running second and Lanigan right on his heels. Lanigan made the move around Hatton for the second position on the second circuit as a fierce battle for third between Hatton and Steve Casebolt Jr would start to turn up the heat. Neat and Lanigan started to pull away from the rapidly progressing race as cars were running all over the 1/2 mile high banked track in position challenges all over the place. The duo of Neat and Lanigan would enter traffic by the 13th lap with Neat still holding his advantage over Lanigan. With traffic slowing their momentum at times Casebolt was able to close up on the two frontrunners and was trying to make it a three car tussle for the lead. Hatton was sitting in fourth with Mike Marlar now up to fourth after starting in the 14th slot. Marlar was closing in quickly on Hatton and Casebolt using the top groove against the wall around the track as he would shoot past Hatton and Casebolt on the same lap, which was lap 23 to take over third place. When the crossed flags were shown indicating the halfway mark of the race lap 25 would see Neat on the point with Lanigan in second, Marlar in third with Casebolt and Gill in the top five.
As more cars were being lapped Lanigan would close in on Neat lap after lap gaining every opportunity he had to take a swipe at the lead. Just when it seemed like Lanigan would get a run on Neat for the lead, Neat would stand up and hold his ground not allowing Lanigan by as the two raced hard. On the 40th lap Neat almost lost the lead then when he and a car he was trying to lap touched on the back straight forcing Neat to get sideways with allowed Lanigan to close right on his bumper. Lanigan would try every possible groove on the track to get by Neat, but Neat was driving the race of his career as he had his sights on the biggest payday of his career and his first ever STARS Battle of the Bluegrass Series win. With very heavy traffic in front of Neat and Lanigan, Marlar was tracking them down closing to two lengths behind Lanigan with less than 10 laps to go. On the 44th lap Lanigan was finally able to make a pass on Neat for the point, but with heavy traffic playing a part in the final outcome of the race, Neat would fight back going back by Lanigan momentarily, but Lanigan would come right back and re-take the lead as the laps would tick down. With two laps to go it was between Lanigan and Neat and with limited space separating the two in traffic Neat would try one last gasp on the white flag lap shooting to the top of the track heading into turn number one but he grazed the wall in turn two killing his chances to pull the win out on the final lap as Lanigan would get to three car lengths in front of him heading down the backstretch. Neat would give it all he had in the final two turns, but Lanigan would head to finish line with Neat right on him taking the checkered flag in a thrilling finish. Neat would end up one car length back in second with Marlar two lengths back in third. Gill got around Casebolt near the end to claim fourth with Casebolt rounding out the top five drivers.
Completing the top ten were Joey Kramer, Rick Corbin, Aaron Hatton, Josh Williams and Duane Hommel. In preliminary events Bryan Barber took the Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time at 16.261 seconds for the 67 entries on hand. Heat races went to Aaron Hatton, Darrell Lanigan, Joey Kramer, Brad Neat, Steve Casebolt Jr and Josh Williams. There were three AFCO B-Mains with Mike Jewell, Mike Marlar and Steve Barnett winning those.
Race Summary
Event #23
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Saturday Night, September 20, 2003
Bluegrass Speedway-Bardstown, KY
Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time: Bryan Barber 16.261
First Heat: Aaron Hatton, John Gill, Mike Jewell, David Freeman
Second Heat: Darrell Lanigan, Duane Hommel, David Powers, Billy Dever
Third Heat: Joey Kramer, Doug Ault, Mike Marlar, Michael Chilton
Fourth Heat: Brad Neat, Rick Corbin, Eddie Carrier Jr., Shawn Negangard
Fifth Heat: Steve Casebolt Jr., Whitney McQueary, Steve Barnett, Tyrel Todd
Sixth Heat: Josh Williams, Jerry Rice, Dustin Neat, Tim Tungate
AFCO 1st B-Main: Mike Jewell, David Powers, Audie McWilliams, Kevin Claycomb
AFCO 2nd B-Main: Mike Marlar, Eddie Carrier Jr., Jesse James Lay, Shawn Negangard
AFCO 3rd B-Main: Steve Barnett, Dustin Neat, Tyrel Todd, Kenny Christy
PBM Performance Products "Bluegrass 50" Main Event: Darrell Lanigan, Brad Neat, Mike Marlar, John Gill, Steve Casebolt Jr., Joey Kramer, Rick Corbin, Aaron Hatton, Josh Williams, Duane Hommel, Mike Jewell, Jerry Rice, Jesse James Lay, Bryan Barber, Whitney McQueary, Eddie Carrier Jr., Doug Ault, Tyrel Todd, Timmy Yeager, Michael Chilton, David Powers, Steve Barnett, Audie McWilliams, Dustin Neat (DNS)
Race Statistics:
Entries: 67 (New Series Record)
STARS BoB Provisionals: Timmy Yeager and Michael Chilton
Track Provisional: Bryan Barber
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Race: Mike Marlar
PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger: Mike Marlar
Caution Flags: 0
Lap Leaders: Brad Neat 1-44 Darrell Lanigan 45-50
Darrell Lanigan - Photo by Richard Cunningham
Saturday Night, September 20, 2003
Bluegrass Speedway-Bardstown, KY
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Darrell Lanigan of Union, KY out dueled Brad Neat to win the 5th Annual "Bluegrass 50" on Saturday Night at the Bluegrass Speedway. The race was sanctioned for the first time by Kentucky's Premier Dirt Late Model Sanctioning Body the STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series as a series record 67 Late Models were on hand for the $5000 to win event. It also set a regular season record for car count at Bardstown breaking last year's 52 car field for the 2002 Bluegrass 50 event. In a thrilling 50 lap main event that saw no caution flags Lanigan would win by just one car length over Neat, who had led the first 44 laps of the race. Lanigan the 2003 Eldora Dream $100,000 winner would take his third STARS BoB win of the year and his fifth career which ties him with Eddie Carrier Jr and Mike Marlar for most all-time in the two year history of the series. Lanigan drove the Lanigan Autosports, Accutex Signs and Banners, Gotta Race Wear, AFCO Racing Products, Porter Lanigan Real Estate, Turbo Blue Racing Gasoline, Weld Racing, Moreland's One Stop Race Shop, Bert Transmissions, Dyer's Top Rods, Custom Craft Racing Headers, Mothers Polishes, Waxes and Cleaners, Arizona Sport Shirts, Delph Communications, All-Star Performance, Cornett Thunder Race Engines powered Rocket Ford Taurus #29 to victory lane holding off Neat who drove the Greg Neat/Neat's Service Center/MasterSbilt Monte Carlo to a second place finish. Current STARS Battle of the Bluegrass point’s leader, Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN was third in the PBM Performance Products/WFO Graphics/C.J. Rayburn Grand Prix. Fourth went to John Gill of Mitchell, IN in the Terry Eaglin Motorsports/Helena Chemicals/Rocket Grand Prix with fifth at the finish going to Steve Casebolt Jr of Richmond, IN in the Dargie Race Engines/Rocket Ford Taurus.
The 2002 Bluegrass Speedway track champion, Brad Neat would start on the outside front row alongside Aaron Hatton, the pole sitter. Neat would set his sights on leading the first lap rocketing into the lead with Hatton running second and Lanigan right on his heels. Lanigan made the move around Hatton for the second position on the second circuit as a fierce battle for third between Hatton and Steve Casebolt Jr would start to turn up the heat. Neat and Lanigan started to pull away from the rapidly progressing race as cars were running all over the 1/2 mile high banked track in position challenges all over the place. The duo of Neat and Lanigan would enter traffic by the 13th lap with Neat still holding his advantage over Lanigan. With traffic slowing their momentum at times Casebolt was able to close up on the two frontrunners and was trying to make it a three car tussle for the lead. Hatton was sitting in fourth with Mike Marlar now up to fourth after starting in the 14th slot. Marlar was closing in quickly on Hatton and Casebolt using the top groove against the wall around the track as he would shoot past Hatton and Casebolt on the same lap, which was lap 23 to take over third place. When the crossed flags were shown indicating the halfway mark of the race lap 25 would see Neat on the point with Lanigan in second, Marlar in third with Casebolt and Gill in the top five.
As more cars were being lapped Lanigan would close in on Neat lap after lap gaining every opportunity he had to take a swipe at the lead. Just when it seemed like Lanigan would get a run on Neat for the lead, Neat would stand up and hold his ground not allowing Lanigan by as the two raced hard. On the 40th lap Neat almost lost the lead then when he and a car he was trying to lap touched on the back straight forcing Neat to get sideways with allowed Lanigan to close right on his bumper. Lanigan would try every possible groove on the track to get by Neat, but Neat was driving the race of his career as he had his sights on the biggest payday of his career and his first ever STARS Battle of the Bluegrass Series win. With very heavy traffic in front of Neat and Lanigan, Marlar was tracking them down closing to two lengths behind Lanigan with less than 10 laps to go. On the 44th lap Lanigan was finally able to make a pass on Neat for the point, but with heavy traffic playing a part in the final outcome of the race, Neat would fight back going back by Lanigan momentarily, but Lanigan would come right back and re-take the lead as the laps would tick down. With two laps to go it was between Lanigan and Neat and with limited space separating the two in traffic Neat would try one last gasp on the white flag lap shooting to the top of the track heading into turn number one but he grazed the wall in turn two killing his chances to pull the win out on the final lap as Lanigan would get to three car lengths in front of him heading down the backstretch. Neat would give it all he had in the final two turns, but Lanigan would head to finish line with Neat right on him taking the checkered flag in a thrilling finish. Neat would end up one car length back in second with Marlar two lengths back in third. Gill got around Casebolt near the end to claim fourth with Casebolt rounding out the top five drivers.
Completing the top ten were Joey Kramer, Rick Corbin, Aaron Hatton, Josh Williams and Duane Hommel. In preliminary events Bryan Barber took the Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time at 16.261 seconds for the 67 entries on hand. Heat races went to Aaron Hatton, Darrell Lanigan, Joey Kramer, Brad Neat, Steve Casebolt Jr and Josh Williams. There were three AFCO B-Mains with Mike Jewell, Mike Marlar and Steve Barnett winning those.
Race Summary
Event #23
STARS Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series
Saturday Night, September 20, 2003
Bluegrass Speedway-Bardstown, KY
Racing Optics/Bullzilla Graphics Fast Time: Bryan Barber 16.261
First Heat: Aaron Hatton, John Gill, Mike Jewell, David Freeman
Second Heat: Darrell Lanigan, Duane Hommel, David Powers, Billy Dever
Third Heat: Joey Kramer, Doug Ault, Mike Marlar, Michael Chilton
Fourth Heat: Brad Neat, Rick Corbin, Eddie Carrier Jr., Shawn Negangard
Fifth Heat: Steve Casebolt Jr., Whitney McQueary, Steve Barnett, Tyrel Todd
Sixth Heat: Josh Williams, Jerry Rice, Dustin Neat, Tim Tungate
AFCO 1st B-Main: Mike Jewell, David Powers, Audie McWilliams, Kevin Claycomb
AFCO 2nd B-Main: Mike Marlar, Eddie Carrier Jr., Jesse James Lay, Shawn Negangard
AFCO 3rd B-Main: Steve Barnett, Dustin Neat, Tyrel Todd, Kenny Christy
PBM Performance Products "Bluegrass 50" Main Event: Darrell Lanigan, Brad Neat, Mike Marlar, John Gill, Steve Casebolt Jr., Joey Kramer, Rick Corbin, Aaron Hatton, Josh Williams, Duane Hommel, Mike Jewell, Jerry Rice, Jesse James Lay, Bryan Barber, Whitney McQueary, Eddie Carrier Jr., Doug Ault, Tyrel Todd, Timmy Yeager, Michael Chilton, David Powers, Steve Barnett, Audie McWilliams, Dustin Neat (DNS)
Race Statistics:
Entries: 67 (New Series Record)
STARS BoB Provisionals: Timmy Yeager and Michael Chilton
Track Provisional: Bryan Barber
R&P Industrial Chimney Rookie of the Race: Mike Marlar
PPM Racing Products/Outlaw Race Cars Hard Charger: Mike Marlar
Caution Flags: 0
Lap Leaders: Brad Neat 1-44 Darrell Lanigan 45-50
